Separable-husk-socket fitting.



E. H, FREEMAN.

SEPARABLE HUSK SOCKET FITTING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1914.

'1145,361; `IAIAHIAIMya, 1915.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET'L witwassen E.'H. FREEMAN.

SEPARABLE HusK SOCKET FITTING.

APPLICATION FILED MAH. 27, 1914.-

l,1.l:5,3161.` v Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Ma( fvwm/Q Vterminals `of the socket.

UNITED sTaTEs PATENT einer?CE.-y

EDGAE H. EEEEMAN, or TEEN'roN, NEW JERSEY.

sEPARAsLEHUsxsocKET FITTING. j

Application led March 27,

, socket coverings which are now extensively employed in electric lighting fixtures.

To this end, the invention contemplates a lamp socket construction wherein the various members thereof are so related that they may be easily assembled and taken apart, thereby greatly facilitating the wiring of the socketito the fixture as well as the convenient manipulatlon thereof for purposesv of repair or replacement of parts.. In this connection, the invention proposes to pro,- vide a construction of socket which may be termed a quick detachable lamp socket for husk fittings; that is 'to say, a socket where-l in thereccptacle or lamp carrying member thereoffmay be easily and quickly removed from within the' husk, and quite as readily and easily replaced at will, without disturbing the husk or-its support or without disturbing the wiring connections with the wire This is a very desirable feature in husk fittings by reason of obviating the many objections to the ordinary methods of mounting lamp sockets within husks, particularly with reference to tliediflculty of fastening the socket and husk together onto the supporting fixture, and the general inaecessibili'ty, of the'ordinary sockets within a husk, for wiring purposes.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a lamp socket construction for husk fittings includimr novel 4interior fastening means for tightly and rigidly securing the husk and the socket to the sul'iporting fixture, the interior .fastening including means for positively locking both the husk and the socket against turning, thereby overcoming one of the objections to husk socket fittings which frequently loosen and turn with the Ascrewing in and out of the lamp.

`W'ith-these and other objects in vievsT Specification of I .etters Patent.A

' P atentedrJuly, 1915.

1914. serial No. 827,710.

which will be readily apparent to those familiar with this class of devices, the invention consists in the 'novel construction, combination, and arrangement of 'parts hereinafter more. fully described', illustrated, 60

and claimed.

Though susceptible `of structural change in Anonessential particulars, a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a complete sectional view of the complete husk fitting including the separable socket mounted .therein and Wired.

Fig. Q is a vertical sectional vien7 illustrat- 70 ing the interior fastening means for locln'ng the cap member of the socket casing and the husk to the nipple of a fixture bracket. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. view of the casing cap member of a separable socket. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but, illustrating the application of the special tool that is preferably employed for screwing home the interior locking nut that secures the cap member `and husk very rigidly to the-supporting fixture. Fig. 6 is a sectional'elevation vshowing the various parts of the separable socket in their separated relation and illustrating the manner of inserting and connecting such parts vvithinthe husk. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 illustrating in plan the arrangement of the-Wire terminal plates on the wife terminal base-piece which to is held by the wires within the bottom part of the rigidly-secured cap Amember ofthe socket casing. Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective of the said wire terminal base-piece.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the receptacle or 95 switch member of the socket,tl1e line of section thereof being indicated by the line 9 9 on Fig. 1 of the drawings. Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. j

In adapting the improved quick detachable or separable lamp socket to a husk fitting, no alteration is required in the husk itself nor in the supporting fixture or 105 bracket, so for illustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings a. section of a hollow lamp fixture bracket, designated by the numeral 1, and having associated therewith the ordinary hollow wiring nipple or button 119 Fig. 4'is an external perspective 75 2 which is provided with the usual threaded section 3 and an annular'abutment -shoulder 4. The threaded section 3 of the nipple 2 is adapted to receive and project through the top opening in the crown of the usual husk or socket covering 5, thus permitting the crown of the husk to be held against the abutment shoulder 4. To provide for rigidly securing and locking the husk in this position, the present invention provides an interior fastening means associated with and carried by the metallic cap member 6 Aof the r of the socket casing. The interior fastening ing means consist of the said cap member 6 and an interior rotatable locking nut 9 which is loosely swiveled within a chambered holding collar 10 projected from the'crown of the cap member 6 and preferably formed integral therewith. The loose swiveled mounting of the locking nut 9 may be conveniently provided for by forming such nut with an annular groove l1 and providing the Wall of the collar 10 with prick-punches 11a forminterior retaining projections that loosely7 engage in said groove 11 and serve to retain the nut within the crown of the cap member 6 at all times. In additionto the locking nut 9 which is adapted to be screwed onto the `threaded section 3 of the wiring nipple 2, the outer side of the holding collar 10 is formed with a plurality of pointed fastening spurs 12 which are adapted to be forcibly crowded by the nut 9 into fastening or locking engagement with the .metal of the husk 5 at the crown thereof.

Inasmuch asA it is preferable to form the metallic cap members 6 of steel, or of a har` grade of metal-than that of the husk 5,.

der it willbe apparent when the nut 9 is tightly 'screwed home, the spurs 12 will be caused to piercej-the metal ofv the husk and crowd againstthe abutment shoulder 4 of the wiring nipple, with the result of very effectually locking the socket cap member 6 andthe husk 5 to the wiring nipple and positively preventing the turning or loosening thereof under any ofthe ordinary strains to which l the electrical lamp socket is subjected.

In order to manipulate the locking means, either for securing the husk and socket onto the supporting wiring nipple 2, or for detaching the same therefrom, it is preferable to employ a special implement or tool for this purpose, and a practical yform of tool supporting bushing-13 which snugly registers Within the socket cap member 6, substantially filling the entire internal space of the same, and provided at one side with holding projections 14 adapted to loosely interlock within the switch key slot l5 formed 1n the wall of the cap member 6, so as to curely lock the bushing against rotative movement when the same is inserted within the cap member 6. 'In addition to the holding projections' 14 projecting from the periphery thereof, the said main supporting bushing 13 of the tool is adapted to have removably inserted into a keeper socket 1G therein, the tenon 17 of an aliningv pin 18. This alining pin is adapted to be inserted through the key slot 19 of the husk and also through the key slot 15 of the cap member 6 and into the said keeper socket 16, tlius providing means, in combination with the holding projections 14, for aliningithe cap member and the husk so that the key shaft of the socket proper will project through both, without loosening-the cap member or l the husk. In addition to the elements referred to, the said applying-tool includes a rotatable Wrench spindle 20 j ournaled'in the longitudinal bearing opening 2l extending through .the bushing 13, and provided at one end with a spanner wrench head 22 having the opposite chuck projections 23 adapted to engage in the tool grooves 24 formed in one face of the locking nut 9. The opposite end of the wrench spindle 20 carries a suitable operating handle 25 to be manipulated by the workman. It will thus` be seen that with the applying-tool arranged in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, they husk and the socket cap member 6 are properly alined and firmly held in position over the threaded section of the wiring nipple 2, While the operator turns the wrench spindle 20 and tightly screws home vthe locking nut 9 in order to effect the locking together of the parts in the manner already pointed out. When this is accomplished, the alining pin 18 is drawn out from the keeper socket 16 so. that the tool or wrench can be readily pulled outof the fixedly positioned socket cap member 6.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the husk and the socket cap member 6 in their applied position remainfixed and stationary upon the wiring lnipple o'r other supporting fixture, thus making it possible for the wireman to very easily wire up the socketand assemble the socket parts, and ,quite as easily separate or detach the socket Iparts and the wires whenever necessary for any purpose.

As already indicated, the main casing for the interior socket parts comprises the cap member 6 and the shell member 7 detachably united by the screw connection 8, and in addition to this separable or two-'part casing, the improved socket includes a Wire terminal base-piece 26 and a receptacle mem-V ber 27 which are also separably related in fthe manner to be'now explained. First, with reference to the wire terminal basepiece 26, the same preferably consists ofa one-piece circular block vof insulating mate- .rial formed with a center wire opening -27L therein and chambered at its inner side, as

indicated at 2S to form seats which receive therein the oppositely arranged wire terminal plates 25)-2!) of duplicate construction..

' Each of these plates is held to its seat within the chamber or recess 2S-by means of a vsuitable retaini'ng'screw 30 passingthrough 32, to provide a spring forked contact having a'receiving opening 34 .for separable connection therewith ofthe circuit terminal elements of the receptacle member 27 of the socket, as will be presently explained. The

said wire terminal, base or block 26, having thesaid wire terminal plates which are a1'-v 30 ranged and constructed as described, is ofA Vsubstantially the saine external diameter as the internal diameter of the socket cap member 6 and is shaped to conform to the in- 1 tei'ior of the latter at the cro-wn thereof, so that the said wire ,terminal base 4will snugly register -inside ot' the crown of the cap member 6, as clearly illustrated in' Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. This wire terminal base affords very simple land convenient means for giving ready accessibility to the socket for wiring purposes, as it will be observed by reference to the drawings that in wiring. the improved socket it is only necessary forvtheworkman to dra-w the line wires 4115 through the fixture 1-2 and through the soclet cap member 6, so that with the wire terminal base entirely removed from the cap member, the wire 4ends can be passed vthrough the center wire opening 27 of the base and conveniently 'secured to the binding screws of the respective wire terminal plates 29. After thus attaching the line wires to the wire terminal plates of the 1 Abase 26, the line` wires are drawn back .65 throughthexture and at the same time the Wire terminalbase 26 is moved into its po- `"sition withinv the crown portion of the cap 1;. vmember 6where it will then be held stationary b the line wires themselves, as will be 00 readi y apparent from the illustration of z Fig. 6 of the drawings. In placing the wire terminal base 26 within the socket capmeinber 6, the same is guided to and held ina fixed position against rotative displacement by suitable guiding and retaining means,

preferably consisting of a longitudinally disposed inwardly projecting guiderib 34 formed on, or carried by, the socket, cap member 6 and a retaining groove 35 formed in the Vexternal periphery of the wire terl` niinal base 26 and slidably interlocking with the said rib 34, asbest seen in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. lt is by reason of the interlocking engagement of the rib 34 and the groove 35 that the wire'terminal base 26 is 75.. held .in a fixed operative position to sep? arably receive-the circuit'terminal elements 3G and 37 respectively of the detachable receptacle member 27 of the socket.

The detachable receptacle member 27 of v80 the socket may be of the key or keyless type, but for purposes of illustrating vthe invention vthe same is shown in the drawings as being of the key 'type of receptacle member having'a switch mechanism for opening and g5 y I closing the electrical .circuit through `the lamp. This receptacle member includes a body 38 of porcelain or other suitable insulating material which is adapted to slidably register ,within the cap vmember `(3 of the 90 socket, and ,is .provided in its peripheral walll with a retaining groove 38@l Which is also adapted to engage the guide rib 34 of the p cap member-6 to insure-the proper alinement of the,l receptacle member with the 95 wire terminal' base and also to prevent rotative movement ofthe receptacle member when the lamp is screwed in and out of p0'- sition. The insulating body 38'of the receptacle member has fitted to one side thereof, 10c the usual screw `shell contact 39 to which is metallically' 'connected Aone end of a combined fastening and conductingvscrew 40 which passes entirely through the insulating body 38, and at the `side thereof opposite .I

the screw 4shell Contact 39 hasa proiecting' f contact pin which constitutes the circuitvv terminal element 37 which detachably engages Withthe spring contact 33 of one of the Wireterminal plates 29. The other, of '1-10 said circuit terminal elements designated byl the numeral 36 -is also in the forni of a conpin` which detachably engages the spring contact 33 of the other wire'terminal plate-2f), and is formed by the projecting 115 end of a fastening and conducting screw 41 fitted in the insulating body38 and engagingA with a switch contact plate 42 seated in the chambered side of the body 3S opposite the screw shell contact 39- and having its tree 12,0 end arranged for-engagement by the rotatable switch block 43 of the switch niecha nisni `carried by the said body 33. This switch mechanism includes, in addition to theplate 42 and thel switch bloeit 43, the 125 snapping spring 44 for the switch block which is perinanentlyin engagement therewith and is'seated within the bottoni of a, switch chamber 45 formed Within the insulating body 38. This snapping spring has 130.

44L with th-e center plug contact spring 45 seated on one side of the body 38 centrally within the bottom portion of the screw shell contact 39, said screw shell contact receiving the plug of the lamp in the usual manner andbeing insulated from the shell member 7 of the socket casing by suitably interposed insulating material 46. j The rotatable switch type which has a limited play on a key shaft 47 journaled in suitable bearings and having an exteriorly arranged operating key 48 adapted to be disposed outside of the husk or socket covering 5. shaft 47 is'adapted to project from one side of the insulating body 38 outward through the respective key slots 15 and 19 ofthe cap member 6 and of thc husk 5, as plainly shown in Figs. `l and 6 of the drawings. After the wire terminal base 26 has been positioned within the crown portion of the fixed cap member 6, as before described and as it appears in Fig. 6, the receptacle liiember 27 is .brought into operative position simply by the act of inserting it upward within the cap member 6. This is accomplished by first tilting the receptaclemember to an inclined positioiaas indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawy ings, so that the operating key may be passed outward through the key slot 19 of the husk. Then the receptacle member is straightened and moved upward into the cap member 6 with the retaining groove 38 of the receptacle' member 3S engaged with the guide rib 34 of the cap member. Thus the receptacle member is correctly guided into play so that the contact ins, or circuit terminal elements 36 and 3 thereof, are caused to move in to contacting engagement with the spring forked contacts.33 of the respective wire terminal plates, thereby establishing the circuit connections through the' socket, subject to the opening and closing of the switch. After the receptacle member is thus positioned,vthe secure retention of. the assembled parts is completed by screwing the shell member 7 onto the threaded end of the cap member 6, said shell member having a flared portion 49 which receives one end of the insulating body 38 of the receptacle member. To remove the receptacle member for replacing or repair, or

for the purpose of gaining access to the Wire' terminals, itis only necessary to unscrew the shell member 7 and manually withdraw the receptacle member 27, as may be readily appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 6 of the drawings.

In order tomore eii'ectually complete the insulation of the switch mechanism and only leave exposed the contact pins 36 and 37 for Jengagement with the terminal plates on the wiring base, an insulating .cover plate 50 block 43 is of the derstood that various changes'in the minor The said keyv made of insulating paper or other insulating material is placed over the pins 36 and 37 and entirely covers the switch chamber -45 andthe elements of the switch mechadetails of-'construction 'may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the inven tion.

I claim: 1. A separable husk fitting comprising in combination with the hollow wiring element,

a husk engaging said element, and an electrical socket arranged inside of the husk and including a cap member internally fastened to the wiring element, a wire terminal based, i

seated within the crown portion of the cap member, a receptacle member received within the cap member and detachably connecting `with the wire terminal base, and a shell i member having a separable connection withthefcap member.

2. A quick detachable socket of the class described, comprising in combination with the hollow wiring element, a metal cap inember having a locked connection at its crown` with said element, a wire terminal base seated within the crown portion of the cap member and having wire terminal plates for the line wire terminals, said base being retained in place by the connection of the wires theiewith, a detachable receptacle member received within the cap member and carrying circuit terminal elementshaving separable :ngagement with the wire terminal plates, and means for removably holdingl the receptacle member within the cap. member. v.

A quick detachable socket of the class described, comprisiiig in combination with the hollow wiring element, a cap member having a. locked engagement at its crown with said wiring element, a wire terminal base removably seated within thecrown portion of the cap member,`and provided with wire terminal plates each having a spring contact, a receptacle member having circuit terminal connections detacliably engaging saidspring contacts of the wire terminal plates, said receptacle member also carrying the electrical plug contacts, and means for removably holding the receptacle member within the cap member.

4. A quick detachable socket of the class described, comprising in combination with the hollow wiring element, acap member having a locked engagement at its crown with said wiring element. a wire terminal base removably seated within the crown portion of the cap member and provided with wire terminal plates each having a spring contact, a receptacle member having circuit terminal connections detachably engaging said spring contacts with the wire terminal plates, said receptacle member also carrying the electrical plug contacts and having a slidable interlocking engagement with the cap member, and means for removably holdling thel receptacle member within the cap member.

5. A quick detachable socket of the class described, comprising in combination with the hollow wiring element, a cap member having a locked connection with said Wiring element, a wire terminal base removably seated within the crown portion of the cap member and having a slidable interlocking engagement therewith, said base being held in positionby the line Wires and provided with terminal plates therefor, each of said terminal plates having a forked contact, a receptacle member received within the cap member and having circuit terminal. elements detachably engaging the forked contacts ofthe wire terminal plates, said receptacle member also carrying the electrical plug contacts and having a slidable interlocking engagement with the cap member,

and means for removably holding the receptacle.

6. A quick detachable socket of the class described, comprising in combination-with thehollow Wiring element, a cap member having a locked connection With said Wiring element, a Wire terminal base removably seated Within the crown portion of the cap A member and carrying Wire terminal plates for a supporting connection of the line Wires therewith, a receptacle ymember removably received Within the cap member and carrying the screw shell contact 4and center plug contact for the electrical plug, said recep- EDGAR H. FREEMAN.

Witnesses C. J. FABER, Y JANE' T. MCCANN. p 

